Golf target

ABSTRACT

A golf ball target structure for practicing chip shots and the like has a flexible target area, made of canvas or similar material and a pocket attached to the lower part of the structure for receiving and collecting golf balls after striking the target area. The upper edge of the pocket is supported by an elongated, flexible and resilient stiffening member which is maintained in a flexed condition for holding the pocket spaced forwardly from the target area. The stiffening member is removable and may be stored in a flattened condition. The flexible target area is supported by a frame generally in the shape of a circle having a flattened chordal section, which permits the target to be rolled from one location to another. A pivoted leg connected to the upper edge of the frame permits the inclination of the target to be varied.

United States Patent 1191 Wilson 1 GOLF TARGET [76] Inventor: Frank Wilson, Box 102, Grayslake,

[22] Filed: July 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 166,920

[52] US. Cl. 273/181 A, 273/105 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 69/36 [58] Field of Search 273/181, 182, 105, 273/176, 184, 185

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,537,809 5/1925 Easton 273/181 A 3,627,327 12/1971 White 273/181 A 3,328,033 6/1967 Hendry 273/182 R 2,224,962 12/1940 Hines 273/105 R 2,552,446 5/1951 OConner 273/105 A X 2,944,816 7/1960 Dixon 273/181 F X June 26, 1973 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Root & OKeeffe [57] ABSTRACT A golf ball target structure for practicing chip shots and the like has a flexible target area, made of canvas or similar material and a pocket attached to the lower part of the structure for receiving and collecting golf balls after striking the target area. The upper edge of the pocket is supported by an elongated, flexible and resilient stiffening member which is maintained in a flexed condition for holding the pocket spaced forwardly from the target area. The stiffening member is removable and may be stored in a flattened condition. The flexible target area is supported by a frame generally in the shape of a circle having a flattened chordal section, which permits the target to be rolled from one location to another. A pivoted leg connected to the upper edge of the frame permits the inclination of the target to be varied.

PAIENIEUJUNZS ma 3.741.549

INVENTOR: 2 FRANK WILSON 9M WWM ATT'YS 1 sou TARGET BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to a golf ball target structure whereby the golfer may practice relatively short or chip shots for the purpose of improving accuracy. The structure preferably consists of an arcuate frame member to which is secured the flexible target area made of canvas material or the like. The lower part of the structure is provided with a pocket adapted to receive and collect golf balls which have struck the target. The target area is sufflciently soft and flexible so that balls will not rebound from the target area but upon impact will merely drop downwardly and be collected in the pocket.

In the specific embodiment of my invention disclosed herein, the golf ball target structure comprises a ringlike frame supportable on a generally horizontal surface, and a sheet of flexible material mounted about its periphery on the frame and serving as a target. A support leg is pivotally connected at one end to the frame and at the other end is engageable with the horizontal surface whereby the frame may be supported in a generally upright position with the inclination thereof being adjustable in response to changes in the angular position of the support leg. In addition, a band of material is disposed across the lower portion of the frame with the lower margin of the band of material being affixed to the sheet of material thereby defining a pocket for receiving and confining a golf ball striking the sheet of material and falling downwardly from the point of impact. The target structure is adapted to be used by a golfer in practicing chip shots' and the like, is readily portable, and may be used either indoors o'routdoors. When the target structure is not in use, the support leg is adapted to be folded toward the frame whereby compactness is attained so as to facilitate transportation or storage of the target structure. Moreover, in view of the use of a ring-like frame, the target structure may be rolled from one location to another.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a golf ball target structure adapted to be used indoors or outdoors by a golfer in practicing chip shots and the like.

It is still another object of my invention to provide golf ball target structure which includes means for receiving and confining a golf ball striking the target and falling downwardly from the point of impact.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a golf ball target structure wherein the inclination of the target may be varied, as desired, by the user.

A stillfurther object of my-invention is toprovide a golf ball target structure which is readily portable, and which may be rolled from one location to another.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide a golf ball target structure wherein the various ele- FIG. 2 is a vertical median sectional view of the golf ball target structure of my present invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the target structure of FIG. 2, taken substantially along the plane of line 3--3 in FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a preferred form of pivotal connection between the frame and support member and taken substantially along the plane of line 44 in FIG. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a rear view, on a reduced scale, of the target structure of FIG. 2 in a substantially vertical position, with the elements thereof being folded together; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the details of the upper part of the pocket when the device is in use.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 the golf ball target structure of my present invention. The target structure 10, as best shown in FIG. 5, comprises a ring-like frame 11 which may, for example, be fabricated from a length of tubing or conduit. The ring-like frame 11 is preferably formed with a flattened lower chordal section 12 that is supportable on a generally horizontal surface. Supported by or mounted on the frame 11, and serving as a golf ball target, is a sheet of flexible material 13. The material 13 adjacent its periphery is folded around the ring-like frame 11 and back upon itself, and is secured in position on the frame 11, for example, by stitches 14. A sufficient amount of slack is maintained in the sheet of flexible material 13 to prevent substantial rebound of a golf ball striking the ments of the target may be folded together toward a sheet. As shown in FIG. 1, target indicia, for example in the form of a solid circle or bulls-eye 15, may be painted or otherwise imprinted on the front surface of the flexible material 13.

To maintain the frame 11 and target 13 in a generally upright position as shown in FIG. 2, I provide a straight support leg or brace 16 preferably in tubular form. The support leg 16 at its upper end is pivotally mounted in any suitable manner to the frame 11 opposite the flattened chordal section 12 and at its lower end is engageable with the generally horizontal supporting surface. The details of a preferred pivot structure between the support leg 16 and the frame 11 are shown in FIG. 4.

During the formation of the frame 11 from a length of tubing the ends 17 and 18 of the latter are brought together, but terminate short of each other so that said ends are spaced apart. A pair of brackets is mounted between these spaced apart ends which'pivotally support one end of the leg 16. These brackets are indicated generally by the numerals l9 and 20, and, as shown, each consists of a tubular plug portion 21 received within one end 17 and 18 of the frame 11. Each bracket is then flattened and bent at right angles to form the spaced arms 22. A pivot member may assume any desired form, but as shown consists of a bolt 23 passing through openings in the leg 16 and the arms 22. The assembled parts are then secured by a wing nut 24 threaded onto the end of bolt 23. This permits leg 16 to freely pivot to folded position for storage and transportation or unfolded position for use.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a band of flexible material 25 is disposed transversely across the lower portion of the frame 11. The lower and side margins of the band of material 25 are affixed, as by the stitching 14, to the adjacent portions of the sheet of flexible material 13. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, a thin elongated removable slat 26 is disposed transversely of the frame 11 along and inside of the upper margin of the band of material 25. As will be observed, the slat 26 is of such length that it bows forwardly so as to space the upper margin of the band of material 25 away from the sheet of material 13 whereby a pocket is defined for receiving and confining a golf ball striking the sheet of material 13 and falling downwardly from the point of impact. Also, a binding strip 27 is preferably provided over the upper edge of the band 25 which provides an edge 28 against which the slat 26 may abut and help to hold the slat against displacement while in use.

In constructing the target structure 10, the frame 11 may be formed with an overall width approximating three feet, the frame 11 and the support leg 16 may be formed of one-half inch metal tubing, and the slat 26 may be formed of wood. Also, with respect to construction, the sheet of flexible material 13 and the band of flexible material 25 may be fabricated of a fabric, such as canvas, which is preferably water repellant and mildewresistant. One type of material which I have found to be satisfactory is 8.98 ounce Army Duck canvas.

In the use of the target structure of my present invention, the removable slat 26 is disposed in position along the upper margin of the band of material 25, and the support leg 16 is pivoted away from the frame 11, for example to the position shown in FIG. 2, whereby the frame 11 and target 13 are supported in a generally upright position. The straight line chordal section 12, in cooperation with the support leg 16, serves to stabilize the frame 11 and target 13 in the preselected position on the generally horizontal supporting surface. The upright target structure may be used, either indoors or outdoors, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by a golfer in practicing short or chip shots and the like.

A golfer, while practicing shots, may vary the type of golf club, the length of his stroke, and the nature of his stance, until he is able to consistently hit a ball that will strike the bulls-eye of the target 13. To accommodate shots with different clubs and of differing trajectories, and as may be otherwise desired by the user, the inclination of the frame 11 and target 13 may be varied by changing the angular position of the support leg 16. As previously indicated, a golf ball striking the target 13 and falling downwardly from the point of impact is received and collected in the pocket defined by the sheet of material 13 and the band of material 25.

Thus, a number of balls may be used for practice shots all of which the golfer may conveniently retrieve for further practice. When it is desired to transport or store the target structure 10, the support leg 16 is folded toward the plane of the frame 11 as shown in FIG. 5. Also, the slat 26 may be removed so as to permit the band of material to be folded into the plane of the frame 11. By reason of this construction, the target structure 10 is compact and readily portable, and may be carried from one location to another, or may be rolled about the circumference of the frame 11 along the ground or other supporting surface between the two locations.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my present invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A golf ball target structure comprising a frame generally in the shape of a circle having a flattened chordal section adapted to be supported on a generally horizontal surface, a sheet of flexible material mounted about its periphery on said frame and serving as a golf ball target, a support leg pivotally connected to said frame at one end thereof opposite said flattened chordal section and at the other end being engageable with the horizontal surface whereby said frame is supported in a generally upright position with the inclination thereof being adjustable, a band of flexible material extending transversely across the lower portion of said frame with the lower margin of said band of material being afflxed to said sheet of material, an elongated flexible and resilient member extending transversely of said frame along the upper margin of said band of material for supporting same, and means for maintaining said elongated member flexed forwardly so as to space the upper margin of said band of material away from said sheet of material whereby a pocket is defined for receiving a golf ball striking said sheet of material and dropping downwardly from the point of impact.

2. A golf ball target structure comprising a frame, a sheet of flexible material within said frame and secured around the marginal edge thereof to said frame and constituting a target area, support means associated with said frame for maintaining said frame in a generally upright position, a pocket formed ofa band of flexible material extending transversely of said target area along the lower portion thereof and secured along the lower and side margins thereof to said sheet of flexible material for collecting golf balls after impact on said target area, and an elongated flexible and resilient stiffening member extending transversely of said frame along the upper marginal edge of said pocket means for maintaining said elongated member flexed outwardly from said target area to hold said pocket open during use of the target structure.

3. The combination of elements defined in claim 2 wherein said frame is generally circular and is provided with a relatively straight chordal portion adapted to rest on a surface when the structure is in use.

4. The combination of elements defined in claim 2 wherein said stiffening member is removably associated with said pocket, whereby said pocket may be flattened against said target area for storage purposes.

5. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, including a binding strip along the upper edge of said pocket providing an abutment edge along the inner surface thereof against which said stiffening member may abut to prevent displacement of said member. 

1. A golf ball target structure comprising a frame gEnerally in the shape of a circle having a flattened chordal section adapted to be supported on a generally horizontal surface, a sheet of flexible material mounted about its periphery on said frame and serving as a golf ball target, a support leg pivotally connected to said frame at one end thereof opposite said flattened chordal section and at the other end being engageable with the horizontal surface whereby said frame is supported in a generally upright position with the inclination thereof being adjustable, a band of flexible material extending transversely across the lower portion of said frame with the lower margin of said band of material being affixed to said sheet of material, an elongated flexible and resilient member extending transversely of said frame along the upper margin of said band of material for supporting same, and means for maintaining said elongated member flexed forwardly so as to space the upper margin of said band of material away from said sheet of material whereby a pocket is defined for receiving a golf ball striking said sheet of material and dropping downwardly from the point of impact.
 2. A golf ball target structure comprising a frame, a sheet of flexible material within said frame and secured around the marginal edge thereof to said frame and constituting a target area, support means associated with said frame for maintaining said frame in a generally upright position, a pocket formed of a band of flexible material extending transversely of said target area along the lower portion thereof and secured along the lower and side margins thereof to said sheet of flexible material for collecting golf balls after impact on said target area, and an elongated flexible and resilient stiffening member extending transversely of said frame along the upper marginal edge of said pocket means for maintaining said elongated member flexed outwardly from said target area to hold said pocket open during use of the target structure.
 3. The combination of elements defined in claim 2 wherein said frame is generally circular and is provided with a relatively straight chordal portion adapted to rest on a surface when the structure is in use.
 4. The combination of elements defined in claim 2 wherein said stiffening member is removably associated with said pocket, whereby said pocket may be flattened against said target area for storage purposes.
 5. The combination of elements defined in claim 2, including a binding strip along the upper edge of said pocket providing an abutment edge along the inner surface thereof against which said stiffening member may abut to prevent displacement of said member. 